more Tam questions

First of all hello everyone....I've been reading this forum since I began looking for a honeymoon destination and all of the info helped make the decision easy.

We will be at the Tam Nov.15-Nov.21. We booked the room and flight through Expedia. If we would like to try to request a specific location is there a specific person who we should contact at the hotel? We do not want to be too far from the bar but would also like to have a nice beach.

How crowded is the Tam during the aforementioned dates?

More questions to follow...Arubalisa I expect a detailed response in less than an hour (just kidding, you are on the ball though and your posts/pictures about/of the Tam were a big reason we chose it!).

As you probably already know, buildings are only two stories and yes, all oceanfront.Hereis a view from a room in 1300 building. First floor vs. second floor is personal preference. Some like the advantage of being on the ground floor and the ability to walk right out of your room directly on to the beach. Others think the view from the second floor balconies is better as well as enjoy a sense of security. Ground floor rooms all have security bars for the sliders.

Keep in mind the beach at the Tamarijn is always changing. As of the end of June there was a very nice stretch of beach in front of 1100 - 1300. As of the end of December there were was a lot of beach erosion due to large waves and there were some rocks beginning to appear in front of 1300. By next August there could once again be a vast difference.

There are some rocks protecting a large palapa in front of building 1200 which are pretty much always like that. Photos of the beach at this area of the Tamarijn Aruba can be seen on the top of the page here. Red barriers are turtle nests. Barriers come down once the turtles hatch. They are not a bother.

2100 - 2500 is on a beautiful quiet stretch of beach, but overlooks the harbor and shipping containers and cargo ships as seen below.

Some people do not like the "far" walk to the Bunker Bar from 2500, never mind the restaurants and lobby.

Other people feel it is well worthwhile for the peace and quiet at the southern end of the resort. Here are photosof the beach at the Tamarijn Aruba from buildings 1900 - 2500. As of the end of December, the beach was pretty much the same, but narrower.

As of the end of December, 1500 to 1900 you needed to cross over rocks on the beach to get into the water. There was no beach between the rocks and the water.

1100 offers best of both words, a little bit away from the lobby, pool, buffet and bars, but easy walking distance.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive and informative reply, and the photos really help to get a good idea of the features too.

You are welcome.

One further question, and this concerns the photo from 1300 - are the loungers and thatched parasol part of the room's "patio area", or are these general facilities for anyone at the hotel?

They are spread out all over. There are three paraol/palapas in front of 1300. Further down near the high numbered buildings they are more of theme, but you are also sharing them with the Divi Dutch Village guests.

It may be the perspective of the photo, but they look pretty close to the room, and I was wondering if you could get up in the morning to find hordes of people right outside your patio doors!

In this particular area from 1100 - 1300 they are right off of the patios. And yes, you can find people right outside your room or between you and the ocean. Palapas are on a first come, first served basis. We have seen people on the second floor come down and secure their spot at 6 am.

At Christmas, there was a large family occupying the four rooms above us. They did not care about the shade, but this was their spot each day in front of our rooms. Luck of the draw, one of those things, nothing you can do about it.

On the second floor you would have a private balcony. I was just wondering how private the patio area of the first floor rooms were.

Neither are totally private, as you can see through to the next door neighbor on the second floor and there is only a half wall separating the patios.